BCG delivered a first-of-its-kind in the region recently with a pilot BCG Farm Tour.
The tours aim to showcase farming in the Buloke Shire and the beauty of the region, they also address the need for people to make the connection that farmers are sustainable food producers. Farmers in this region not only produce large volumes of grain to feed the world but also manage several intensive livestock industries and are at the forefront of driving innovative, grass roots research and extension.
Representatives of the tourism industry toured our farm at Jil Jil before enjoying a lunch based on a menu developed by renown chef and BCG Board member, Stefano de Pieri. The meal included ingredients that are grown in the Mallee including lamb, lentils and olive oil.
Our farming practices are environmentally sustainable, producing quality, safe food for Australian and overseas consumers. Agricultural farming methods and the technology, and machinery used in large scale farming, demonstrates the continued development of sustainable practices with the goal of passing our farms and our soils to the next generation in a healthier state.
To showcase these practices and be met with such enthusiasm and interest from those who attended the pilot was a thoroughly enjoyable experience. The knowledge gap I witnessed reaffirmed the value of these tours for consumers and farmers. These tours provide a direct link with consumers which we haven’t had before, allowing visitors to gain a greater understanding and appreciation for how their food is produced while farmers can better understand the needs of the market and have their voice heard.
The tours will also build awareness of the work BCG undertakes in the region and across Australia, conducting research and communicating it to farmers to further enhance production, sustainability and safety into the future.
The COVID pandemic and increased cost of living has deterred Australians from travelling overseas. The result has been a tourism boom in regions such as the Mallee and Wimmera where an entirely new audience including grey nomads, young metro-based adults (‘Lifestyle Leaders’) and young active families are looking to explore rural Victoria on the Silo Art Trail and are in search of an authentic country experience.
We are fortunate to live in such a picturesque part of the world, with our wide-open spaces, diverse landscapes and vibrant communities. These are a clear drawcard for those on tour who we hope will leave with not only a greater understanding of farming but a with a sense of the uniqueness of the region and the desire to ‘linger longer’.
‘Diversify to embrace emerging opportunities’ is one of BCG’s strategic objectives. This can take the form of supporting farm business diversification, promoting vibrant, creative and thriving agricultural communities and celebrating the fact that quality food experiences rely on safe, high quality farming and supply chains. The BCG Farm Tours project is a great opportunity to achieve these objectives.
This initiative is being delivered in partnership with the Buloke Shire Council and the State Government via the Business Tourism Innovation Grant program.
BCG Farm Tours will launch in August. For more information visit www.bcg.org.au and keep an eye out for media coverage.
